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en-usCopyright 2015 AOL, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only.Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/01/rubin-thq-could-have-survived-but-made-massive-mistakes/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/01/rubin-thq-could-have-survived-but-made-massive-mistakes/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/01/rubin-thq-could-have-survived-but-made-massive-mistakes/#commentsWe know pretty much all there is to know about the dissolution of THQ, how its valuable studios and properties were sold off, while others were left to fend for themselves. We're pretty well versed on why it all happened. Now, former THQ president Jason Rubin has given MCV his opinion on why the publisher went south.

Rubin refuted the notion that THQ was simply a victim of a changing industry, that it was unable to keep up with bigger publishers. "THQ had every chance to survive," he said, "had it not made massive mistakes." Said mistakes - things like bungling uDraw, the Warhammer 40K MMO and Homefront - didn't happen on Rubin's watch, however, as he was only appointed in May of 2012. Ultimately, there was "too much negative hanging on [THQ's] books," he said.

THQ's failure didn't boil down to bad luck either. "Could Homefront have caught a nerve and sold 10m copies? It's possible I guess, but probably not without better production," he said, adding that luck certainly wasn't a factor in THQ's decision to cancel Warhammer 40K: Dark Millennium Online. "That was simply a bad decision in a sea of bad decisions."

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>homefrontjason-rubinthqudrawwarhammer-40000-dark-millennium-onlineFri, 01 Feb 2013 11:15:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/29/warhammer-40-000-dark-millennium-mmo-now-single-player-game-10/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/29/warhammer-40-000-dark-millennium-mmo-now-single-player-game-10/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/29/warhammer-40-000-dark-millennium-mmo-now-single-player-game-10/#commentsTroubled publisher THQ announced today that Warhammer 40K: Dark Millennium Online will drop the "online" portion of its name and become a solo experience -- with multiplayer aspects. Actual product details will be made later.

"As previously announced, we have been actively looking for a business partner for the game as an MMO. However, based on changing market dynamics and the additional investment required to complete the game as an MMO, we believe the right direction for us is to shift the title from an MMO to a premium experience with single and multiplayer gameplay, robust digital content and community features," THQ CEO Brian Farrell wrote in a statement.

As a result of this change, THQ raises the body count of its collapse, with 79 full-time employees let go at Vigil Games in Austin and another 39 employees at Relic Entertainment.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>layoffspcRelicRelic-Entertainmentthqvigil-gameswarhammer-40000-dark-millennium-onlineThu, 29 Mar 2012 14:30:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/02/thq-actively-seeking-a-partner-for-warhammer-dark-millennium-o/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/02/thq-actively-seeking-a-partner-for-warhammer-dark-millennium-o/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/02/thq-actively-seeking-a-partner-for-warhammer-dark-millennium-o/#commentsGood news! THQ is back to "making decisions regarding the planned MMO" -- like, for example, the decision to look for help. During the Q&A portion of its investor conference call, THQ CEO Brian Farrell revealed that THQ is looking for a partner for the development of the expensiveDark Millennium Online.

"While the game in development promises to be a high-quality consumer offering," Farrell said, "because of the large financial commitment and associated risks, we are being realistic about our resources and we are actively seeking a partner for this compelling MMO."

It would seem that the publisher is trying its best not to cancel the MMO, despite being short of resources.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>pcthqvigil-gameswarhammer-40000-dark-millennium-onlineThu, 02 Feb 2012 18:45:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/02/thq-lists-warhammer-mmo-for-fiscal-2014-has-multiple-unannounce/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/02/thq-lists-warhammer-mmo-for-fiscal-2014-has-multiple-unannounce/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/02/thq-lists-warhammer-mmo-for-fiscal-2014-has-multiple-unannounce/#commentsRecent rumors held that THQ had canceled its whole 2014 lineup, including Warhammer 40K: Dark Millennium Online. THQ responded shortly after with the cryptic announcement that it "has not made any decisions regarding the planned MMO."

According to a release calendar in today's earnings report, DMO is still on. The title is listed in the "Fiscal 2014 and beyond" category (Fiscal 2014 begins in April of 2013, just after the original release date), alongside other games THQ claims are still in the works: Turtle Rock Studio's unnamed FPS; Volition's inSane; Homefront 2; and the "Patrice Désilets Original Title." Additionally, THQ has "four unannounced core titles" for fiscal 2014 and beyond, indicating an intention to remain in business beyond fiscal 2014.

Somewhat closer to home, THQ also has two "unannounced core titles" for fiscal 2013 (this year through March 2013). That's in addition to UFC Undisputed 3, Darksiders 2, South Park, a new WWE release, Metro: Last Light, and Devil's Third.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftpcplaystationps3thqwarhammer-40000-dark-millennium-onlinexboxThu, 02 Feb 2012 16:57:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/01/report-thq-vp-of-tech-mark-deloura-out-alongside-174-others/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/01/report-thq-vp-of-tech-mark-deloura-out-alongside-174-others/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/01/report-thq-vp-of-tech-mark-deloura-out-alongside-174-others/#commentsWhen THQ announced plans for layoffs that didn't affect its five main internal studios, we didn't think folks like VP of tech Mark DeLoura would end up getting cut. But that's what an automated response from his email address confirmed to us last night. The response outright states, "Mark DeLoura is no longer with THQ." According to DeLoura's LinkedIn page, he was "responsible for technology strategy, the online game and MMO operations teams, the centralized online technology group, and relationships with platform and technology manufacturers."

More specifically, we're told that DeLoura was leading up management on the upcoming Warhammer 40K MMO -- the same MMO that's rumored to be canceled. At the time, THQ responded to allegations that the MMO was canned with a nebulous statement: "[THQ] has not made any decisions regarding the planned MMO."

Additionally, IGDA Mobile SIG chair Kevin Dent alleges that during the recent round of THQ restructuring, 174 employees were let go -- Dent was the origin of the aforementioned cancelation rumors (he isn't related to Harvey Dent, we're told). The company is also facing potential delisting on the NASDAQ stock exchange. THQ declined to offer comment regarding this report, and once more directed us to this Thursday's investor call.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>kevin-dentlayoffslinkedinmark-delourapcreportthqwarhammer-40000-dark-millennium-onlineWed, 01 Feb 2012 13:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/16/thq-denies-rumors-about-cancellation-of-its-2014-lineup/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/16/thq-denies-rumors-about-cancellation-of-its-2014-lineup/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/16/thq-denies-rumors-about-cancellation-of-its-2014-lineup/#commentsYesterday, a series of tweets by IGDA Mobile SIG chair Kevin Dent alleged that THQ was in financial trouble, and that it was canceling its 2014 game lineup (most notably Warhammer 40k: Dark Millenium Online) and shopping itself out to potential buyers.

This evening, THQ's Australian PR department issued a statement to the contrary, as posted by VG247. "THQ has not cancelled its 2014 line-up, and has not made any decisions regarding the planned MMO," THQ said. According to the statement, the only reduction to THQ's lineup has been to move focus away from the "kids' boxed games sector" following poor performance of the most recent version of the uDraw. " Our slate for calendar 2012 and beyond is focused on high-quality core games and continues to build our digital platform and business," the statement said. "We are excited for our pipeline of original and high-quality content along with our relationships with some of the best talent in the industry."

Note that THQ said it "has not made any decisions" about Warhammer 40k: DMO -- that's hardly a statement of unwavering support. Regardless, the statement is clear about the rest of the 2014 lineup.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dscancellationdskevin-dentmicrosoftnintendoplaystationps3thqwarhammer-40000-dark-millennium-onlinewiixboxMon, 16 Jan 2012 00:15:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/13/warhammer-40k-dark-millennium-mmo-coming-march-13-2013/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/13/warhammer-40k-dark-millennium-mmo-coming-march-13-2013/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/13/warhammer-40k-dark-millennium-mmo-coming-march-13-2013/#comments
THQ has officially announced a date for the long-awaited Warhammer 40K MMO, subtitled Dark Millennium. Don't get too excited, because it isn't due until March 13, 2013. Given all of the games we have yet to see this year, not to mention next year, this Warhammer seems especially distant in the future. Our friends at Massively have a ton of info if you need something to tide you over.

At least THQ is staking an early claim on that "3/13/13" date. May we recommend the picturesque Hinesville, GA -- home of not one, not two, but three signers of the Declaration of Independence -- as a place on which to center the midnight launch proceedings? You'll really like the zip code tie-in.

Update: THQ sends a note that it has not yet officially announced a date for the title, and there is no more mention of 2013 on the official websites for THQ or the game itself. Unmark that calendar, we guess.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>201331313dark-millenniumhinesvillehinesville-gammopcrelease-datethqwarhammer-40000-dark-millennium-onlineThu, 13 Oct 2011 10:25:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/11/thq-warhammer-mmo-will-cost-50-million-udraw-still-making-ban/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/11/thq-warhammer-mmo-will-cost-50-million-udraw-still-making-ban/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/11/thq-warhammer-mmo-will-cost-50-million-udraw-still-making-ban/#comments
See, this is how you can tell you can tell we're dummies about business. If someone asked us how much we'd spend on a Warhammer MMO in a world where World of Warcraft still reigns and Blizzard has another online game in the pipeline, our answer would be "not much." But THQ's answer, when posed the same question about the upcoming Dark Millennium? Around $50 million, according to CFO Paul Pucino, speaking on a recent conference call.

Just when we're about to get snide about our business savvy, Pucino reveals that the company expects to sell 1.7 million uDraw tablets (remember the uDraw?), up from a 1.3-million-unit prediction in December of last year. 1.7 million. uDraws.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>mmonintendopaul-pucinopcthqudrawwarhammer-40000-dark-millennium-onlinewiiFri, 11 Mar 2011 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/24/warhammer-40k-dark-millennium-online-trailer-gives-taste-of-the/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/24/warhammer-40k-dark-millennium-online-trailer-gives-taste-of-the/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/24/warhammer-40k-dark-millennium-online-trailer-gives-taste-of-the/#comments
The Warhammer 40K MMO, Dark Millennium, may still be another two years away, but the trailer after the break gives us a small glimpse of the in-development title's graphics and user interface. Of course, being two years away, almost all of that can (and likely will) change.